Matrix Online now available on Station Access [Archive]

thecrazyd

08-15-2005, 02:44 PM

Play any SOE games? Want to try Matrix Online, but don't want to pay for it? Well, now MXO is now available to Station Access subscribers. That means for $21.99 a month, you get access to all the following games.

Matrix Online
Star Wars Galaxies
PlanetSide
EverQuest
EverQuest 2
EverQuest Online Adventures
and SOE's Action Games.

It's a pretty good way to have access to several pay to play game types for one set fee.

MasterEvilAce

08-15-2005, 03:18 PM

Death to Sony. They bought out Infantry Zone and destroyed it.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 03:42 PM

I'm fairly sure you have to BUY those games at full price before they work with the All Access Pass though.

JazGalaxy

08-15-2005, 03:49 PM

Kefkataran

08-15-2005, 03:52 PM

Yes, you do have to buy the games first.

I might take advantage of this one day, if all other MMORPGs run out of interest to me. Otherwise, I'll still just be on the sidelines rooting loudly for NCSoft to do an all-access pass thing.

Cha-Ka

08-15-2005, 04:00 PM

I'd rather see this sort of thing for NCSoft too, but let's face it. SOE only does this because they realize they're more likely to make $ this way than by trying to charge individually for these games. NCSoft clearly has more faith in their products which, in my opinion, are superior to anything on this list.

Matrix Online
Star Wars Galaxies
PlanetSide
EverQuest
EverQuest 2
EverQuest Online Adventures
and SOE's Action Games

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 04:06 PM

The Station concept would be so much more interesting if they had more than one type of gameplay. When I look at that list I see two games. Planetside and "generic MMMORPG". I thought Everquest 2 was awesome for the month I played it, but I couldn't imagine playing any other games on station and not thinking "why am I splitting my time between ten versions of the same thing..."

Er... Planetside, EQ, The Matrix, and SWG are all completly different games. If you had any experience with them, you'd know this. SWG really isn't like anything on the market, except maybe UO.

I'd rather see this sort of thing for NCSoft too, but let's face it. SOE only does this because they realize they're more likely to make $ this way than by trying to charge individually for these games. NCSoft clearly has more faith in their products which, in my opinion, are superior to anything on this list.

NCSoft is a publisher... who has published it's share of stinkers. Lineage and Lineage II come to mind.

Adam Blue

08-15-2005, 04:12 PM

NCSoft is a publisher... who has published it's share of stinkers. Lineage and Lineage II come to mind.

I might be wrong, but I'm sure those weren't stinkers in other regions. I don't like the gameplay of MMORPG's, and to me SWG and EQ are the same thing, just a different universe.

But how's Planetside? It's a consistent FPS which sounds cool. Especially when your character upgrades like a conventional MMO...but I never hear anything about it.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 04:22 PM

I might be wrong, but I'm sure those weren't stinkers in other regions.

They sold well, but they were horribly shitty games, ask anyone who has played a decent MMO. Lineage was inferior to friggin UO both in graphics, gameplay, and character customization, and it came out several years after. Lineage 2 was just... crap, the combat and advancment just sucked. Graphics were good though.

I don't like the gameplay of MMORPG's, and to me SWG and EQ are the same thing, just a different universe.

Uhh... Well, how are they the same? Different settings, different levels of character customization, entirely different advancment system (one has a skill tree, one works on levels), they are made to be played in different perspectives, one has player housing the other doesn't, one has friggin twitch-based space combat the other doesn't... They aren't anything alike, beyond the fact that they are 3D MMORPG's. Is Mario 64 exactly the same as Halo?

But how's Planetside?

It sucks.

Nameback

08-15-2005, 04:24 PM

I might be wrong, but I'm sure those weren't stinkers in other regions. I don't like the gameplay of MMORPG's, and to me SWG and EQ are the same thing, just a different universe.

But how's Planetside? It's a consistent FPS which sounds cool. Especially when your character upgrades like a conventional MMO...but I never hear anything about it.

I played for a few months a while back. It was ok in the beginning, but they way they had the game evolve just ruined things. And the expantion pack they put out for it? Oh dear god I dont even wanta remeber. It was like paying to run around in a big empty cave for hours on end. And if on the slight chance you did run into someone it didnt matter, they were probly just as lost as you.

thecrazyd

08-15-2005, 04:29 PM

I played for a few months a while back. It was ok in the beginning, but they way they had the game evolve just ruined things. And the expantion pack they put out for it? Oh dear god I dont even wanta remeber. It was like paying to run around in a big empty cave for hours on end. And if on the slight chance you did run into someone it didnt matter, they were probly just as lost as you.
To be fair though, the more games that are added to Station Access, the more people will play all of those games. PS had alot more subscribers after being added to Station Access, and will get even more now that people are trying it for MXO.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 04:36 PM

Wyrm

08-15-2005, 04:51 PM

I look at that list and I dont see a damn thing on there worth paying a dime for.

Acidpoptart

08-15-2005, 04:55 PM

I would easily sign up for the All Access pass if I didn't have to buy all those games... But since I do, it's not really that good of a deal for me. I mean, I don't like EQ... but I do like SWG, and Planetside + MXO wouldn't be a bad deal for an extra $5.

I feel the same way. SWG and PLanetside would be fun, and I also wouldnt mind trying MXO and EQ2, but like others have said, I am not up for buying a copy of each of those games... I dont care THAT much. MMOs take up so much time as is, 2 MMOs at once can be hard, but who seriously has time for 3 or 4? I can see this package being pretty good for a casual player who wants to play each of them for a little while at a time.

thecrazyd

08-15-2005, 04:59 PM

I think SWG is very underrated. A lot of MMO snobs snub it because it had a weak launch, and because it is not WoW. I think it has alot of good things going for it. Far from perfect, but damn if the space fighting isn't fun. Then again, I work for SOE and don't have to pay. Which is good, because these games tend to bore me fast. The best thing about MXO is that the jumping animation. I log in to jump around, maybe kill a few bad guys, and tend to get bored fairly easily. PlanetSide is cool, but it is no BF2. It is one of those games that is really hurt by the low number of subscribers.

A Lusty Alien

08-15-2005, 05:02 PM

I've got the Station Access, I've purchased all of the games above (except for Matrix Online) but the only ones I really play are EQ and EQ II. I can't get into the mindset of SWG, feels too much like real life. Not enough fantasy elements.

PlanetSide is interesting, but I'd probably enjoy it more if I had some other friends who'd want to play.

Knowing me, I'm probably going to get Matrix Online, play it for a month and then just leave it installed on the computer.

rein

08-15-2005, 05:11 PM

I look at that list and I dont see a damn thing on there worth paying a dime for.

Then don't!

This is a pretty damn good deal. You can get most of these games on the cheap now. The entire SWG collection is $29.99 (http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/256733.asp), Enter the Matrix is $18.88 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006SQWSU/002-9350948-5632826?v=glance), and Planetside is $9.99 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007M9SL/qid=1124150621/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_unbuck_1/002-9350948-5632826?v=glance&s=videogames&n=229534) (without expansion). BTW, you can have fun in Planetside without the expansions. I never bothered picking them up because I had read they sucked and I knew I wouldn't want to hang in the caves. You can also pick up the original EQ up to Legacy of Ykesha for $19.99 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A4F4U/ref=olp_product_details/002-9350948-5632826?v=glance&s=videogames) as well.

As soon as my WoW account expires I will be resubscribing and get back to some Tanarus, EQ2, Planetside and try out Galaxies.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 05:17 PM

SWG is a cool game in a lot of ways... But the combat sucks. Well, it did suck, I don't know now because I haven't played since they redid the whole thing. I need to go buy that complete collection so I can be a twi'lek stripper again... <.<

Don't look at me like that, mofos.

Steve_Erhardt

08-15-2005, 06:12 PM

That is pretty tempting. I know I really want to try the space combat in SWG. I saw a friend play it over here on his machine on the last LAN party he made it to, and it looked pretty sweet. Throw in the other games I'd be interested in taking a peek at (Planetside, EQ2, maybe Matrix, just for the hell of it) while they're cheap on the shelf... but I'll probably wait just a while longer yet... saving up for a new machine I wanna go balls-out on.

Kefkataran

08-15-2005, 06:21 PM

I need to go buy that complete collection so I can be a twi'lek stripper again...

I've always said I like you better as a stripper.

balamoor

08-15-2005, 08:37 PM

I always said if playing SOE MMO's were as fun as watching the Hype videos then I would be a hopeless addict...fortunately for me they are boring uninspired piles of shit. But one mans poison is another mans cure, many of my friends feel the same way about the games I love.

I mean here I am years after the releases still playing Diablo II and Starcraft, and I am probably the only person walking the planet that doesn’t have much bad to say about WoW. I don't see SOE maintaining all of these MMO's for very long though, it is no great secret that the subscriber base for all of their games. even after all the SOE corporate padding is abysmal. I have a free EQ II account, and the last time I logged on last month on Lucan De lere it there was hardly anyone to be seen. I do know that SOE is really counting on DoF to pull EQ II out of the tailspin...but I don’t see it happening.

JazGalaxy

08-15-2005, 09:01 PM

Uhh... Well, how are they the same? Different settings, different levels of character customization, entirely different advancment system (one has a skill tree, one works on levels), they are made to be played in different perspectives, one has player housing the other doesn't, one has friggin twitch-based space combat the other doesn't... They aren't anything alike, beyond the fact that they are 3D MMORPG's. Is Mario 64 exactly the same as Halo?

The fact that you don't even SEE how that's the same game shows that we are on two entirely different wavelengths.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 09:18 PM

The fact that you don't even SEE how that's the same game shows that we are on two entirely different wavelengths.

The only two similarities are that they are in 3D, and they are MMO's... What do you find similar about the two games? o.0

Kefkataran

08-15-2005, 09:29 PM

I am probably the only person walking the planet that doesn’t have much bad to say about WoW.

Nah. Add me to the list. There's a few shortcomings, but nothing that I've found a whole lot of time to bitch about. I mean the game still stole away months of my time and probably will again come expansion release. How can I complain about that?

Blue

08-15-2005, 09:41 PM

I've always said I like you better as a stripper.

Always remember: the lapdance isn't good unless the stripper is crying.

Heretic Machine

08-15-2005, 10:01 PM

The one bad thing about WoW: Mid-level fucking grind... No fun at all, especially not compared to the first thirty levels.

Blue

08-15-2005, 10:13 PM

The one bad thing about WoW: Mid-level fucking grind... No fun at all, especially not compared to the first thirty levels.

I dunno, I think that WoW's mid-level grind is better than the rest of the stuff out there. At least I was somewhat interested in what I was doing and, actually, had a better time in those levels because the game finally seemed to open up for me. Could be alone on that, but I don't see how WoW's grind is any worse than the rest of the bunch. If anything, I think the quest system at least makes it tolerable.

Now FF XI's mid-level (heck, all level) grind?

/shudders

rein

08-16-2005, 12:10 AM

I dunno, I think that WoW's mid-level grind is better than the rest of the stuff out there. At least I was somewhat interested in what I was doing and, actually, had a better time in those levels because the game finally seemed to open up for me. Could be alone on that, but I don't see how WoW's grind is any worse than the rest of the bunch. If anything, I think the quest system at least makes it tolerable.

Now FF XI's mid-level (heck, all level) grind?

/shudders

I think the main difference in WoW mid level grind is what class you are playing. I played a hunter and had a blast in my mid levels. I played a druid and didn't like it nearly as much. One thing I have noticed, my pace at leveling with a hunter is so much faster than any other class I have played in WoW.

Blue

08-16-2005, 06:30 AM

I think the main difference in WoW mid level grind is what class you are playing. I played a hunter and had a blast in my mid levels. I played a druid and didn't like it nearly as much. One thing I have noticed, my pace at leveling with a hunter is so much faster than any other class I have played in WoW.

That's true, I'll definitely agree with you there. Hadn't thought of that. As a Hunter, I'm having an absolute blast. Our guild, somehow, has no Warrior in it and so I said I would start leveling one up for raids and whatnot and I'm not enjoying myself nearly as much. I hear that Rogues are a blast to play too, but as my server (and I'd wager most every other server) has met their Rogue quota, I don't really feel like rolling one. That, and I think they're kinda cheap. Ah well.

Kefkataran

08-16-2005, 06:55 AM

Mid-level fucking grind... No fun at all, especially not compared to the first thirty levels.

Like I've said before, I didn't mind the mid-level grind so much. Maybe it is based more on class like others were saying? But with my mage, I constantly had a full quest log with more to get any time I cleared some off and was always running around doing fun, interesting shit with guildmates who were working through my level range too.

Shit, I'm surprised it didn't happen before, but all this WoW talk is making me want to play. Dammit, Bliz, you get the x-pack out so I have a solid reason to go back...

gojira

08-16-2005, 07:24 PM